YMAA Publication Center Authors

Here you may read more about the YMAA authors, who are listed in alphabetical order. These exceptional writers offer their expertise and a wealth of information across a wide range of subjects: Chinese Martial Arts such as Kung Fu and Taijiquan, the Healing Arts of Qigong and Massage, Japanese Karate, Korean Taekwondo, Meditation, Chin Na grappling, and many others.

It was 1971 when Mr. Arsenault began his martial arts training in North Bay, Ontario under the watchful eye of Sensei Duane Sawyer in Kenshokan Dharma, Goshin Jutsu. At this time, he had yet to hear of Bruce Lee who became a screen idol in the early 70s and started the Kung Fu craze here in North America.

Andrew Zerling is a black-belt martial artist with over two decades of experience in a variety of styles. His work has appeared in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts and Black Belt Magazine with Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Renzo Gracie.

Arthur Rosenfeld is a martial arts teacher, writer, speaker, and coach. His martial arts training spans more than thirty years, and includes instruction in Tang Soo Do, Kenpo, Kung Fu, and Tai Chi Ch'uan.

Ben Warner began studying with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming in 1998. In 2000, he began assisting the YMAA children's kung fu program. In 2001, he became a full time instructor and in 2005 he became head of the YMAA Boston kids program. He has also organized martial arts programs for several schools in the Boston area.

Daisy Lee is certified as a Level III Advanced Qigong Instructor and Clinical Practitioner by the National Qigong Association of America, as well as being a past board member on the International Qigong Science Association in Beijing. She has studied and taught Qigong since the 1990s, inspiring people from all walks of life to take greater responsibility for their own health and well-being.

Daniel Modell served for twenty years in the New York City Police Department across a range of patrol commands in several boroughs. Awarded some twenty medals and twice promoted during his tenure, he retired as a Lieutenant. He served as Coordinator of the Tactical Training Unit and as Training Coordinator of the Firearms and Tactics Section for the agency.

Darrell Max Craig is a highly regarded teacher of many of Japanese martial arts, and a pioneer in their development in the West for over forty years. He holds multiple black belts and is a U.S. Kendo champion, leading the U.S. Kendo team to the world championships.

David-Dorian Ross has won eight US Gold Medals, a World Silver medal and two World Bronze medals in Tai Chi around the world. An acclaimed teacher, he has been featured on PBS and is the bestselling creator of the TaijiFit series and many titles, and co-creator with Jet Li of the TaijiZen series.

David Hopkins, PhD, is a psychologist with 21 years of experience, combining psychological principles relating to violence and psychotherapy with martial arts, self-defense, close protection, and in investigative work against terrorists and criminal elements, including organized crime.

David Kahn serves as the Israeli Krav Maga Association's U.S. Chief Instructor and teaches federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies along with all branches of the U.S. military. David is the only American ever to sit on the non-profit Israeli Krav Maga Association's board of directors.

David Silver has had a lifelong interest in meditation, and began training Gojū Ryū Karate at age 11. He studied Taijiquan, Qigong, and Yoga in his 20's, and became certified by world-renown Chinese martial arts master, Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, as a YMAA Qigong Instructor.

David W. Grantham was born on September 22, 1965, in Dorchester, Massachusetts and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts from the age of three. At the age of eighteen, he attended Bridgewater State College to pursue his dream and currently is employed by Continental Airlines as a pilot based in New Jersey.

Donivan Blair is the bassist for the rock band the Toadies. Over the past twenty-five years he has recorded seventeen albums and toured the world. Spoiler alert: He holds a first-degree black belt in taekwondo. Donivan Blair lives in Amarillo, Texas, and trains in a shed behind his house.

Doug Cook holds a 6th Dan Black Belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo and is certified as an instructor and in rank by the United States Taekwondo Association and the Kukkiwon. He is a six-time gold medalist having frequently participated in the New York State Championships and the New York State Governor's Cup Competitions.

Aihan Kuhn, C.M.D., is a Chinese medical doctor trained in both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is a graduate of the Hunan Medical University, Changsha China. In China, Dr. Kuhn practiced OB/GYN in Chinese hospitals (1983-1988), studied Tai Chi and Chi Kung (since 1978) and returns each year to advance her training in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts.

Dr. Bin Jiang Wu has been studying TCM since childhood under the tutelage of TCM Doctors in his family. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine from Heilongjian University (1983), a Master of Medicine and Qigong from the China Academy of TCM, Beijing (1988). He is currently the President of the Ontario College of TCM, Toronto Ont. Canada. Dr. Wu resides in Toronto.

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming (楊俊敏博士) started his Gongfu (Kung Fu) training at the age of fifteen under the Shaolin White Crane (Bai He) Master Cheng, Gin Gsao (曾金灶). In thirteen years of study (1961-1974) under Master Cheng, Dr.

F.J. Chu, born in Taiwan, ROC, is a certified black belt instructor in Kenpo Karate. Over the past twenty-five years, he has also trained in Fu Jow Pai Kung Fu, Aikido and Tai Chi Chuan. He is the author of two books on investing, President of Sage Capital Group, Inc., and Principal of the Chinese School of Southern Westchester (Scarsdale NY). F.J.

Kickboxing, has three decades of experience involving every aspect of the martial arts. He began boxing in high school in 1966 and began training in the martial arts in 1969. Frank taught karate at the University of Southern Maine in 1970 and at the University of Kabul in Afghanistan in 1973 as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

George Katchmer, Jr. is a longtime Qigong practitioner, martial artist, and practicing Buddhist. Mr. Katchmer has a B.A. in Philosophy from Villonova University and a B.A. in Divinity from United Theological Seminary.He is a student of Master Hiroshi Tajima at the U.S. Headquarters of Genwakai Karate in Dayton and a member of Karma Thegsum Choling, Buddhist Temple in Columbus, Ohio.

Gin Foon Mark was born in 1927 in Toison, China, a small village near Canton (Guandong). At the age of five he began his studies in the art of Gongfu, under the supervision of his uncle Kong Boon Fu, a 4th generation master of White Crane Gongfu. His grandfather, who was also a master, tutored him in their family style known as Mok Gar (Mark Style) Gongfu.

Goran Powell began his writing career in 1991 as an advertising copywriter, and by 1995 he was creative director of a major London advertising agency. During this period, his work won 10 national and international awards. He became a freelance writer in 1999 and currently works for many of London's top agencies.

Master Helen Liang, the eldest daughter of Grandmaster Liang, Shou-Yu, began training in traditional Wushu at the age of 4 under the strict guidance of her father. At the age of 11, she was chosen to train with Sichuan Provincial Wushu School. In 1985, she immigrated to Canada and became an official instructor at the Shou-Yu Liang Wushu institute in 1989.

Henry (Yinghao) Zhuang has been involved with tai chi for over thirty years. Starting as self-taught, and then seeking formal instruction, the author is in a unique position to help others on this rewarding, but sometimes solo journey of seeking health and happiness through tai chi practice. Henry Zhaung is a chief real estate appraiser, and resides in Shanghai, China.

Hong-Chao Zhang was born on December 20, 1954, in Lankao County, Henan Province, the People's Republic of China. He began learning Wushu (Chinese Martial Arts) from Grandmaster Niansheng Wu in his hometown when he was a young boy. From 1971 to 1974, he learned Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Massage at Gaozhuang Hospital in Yangchen County.

Jason Thalken has a PhD in computational condensed matter physics from the University of Southern California, and bachelor’s degrees in physics, mathematics, and philosophy from the University of Texas.

J. D. Swanson holds a PhD in integrative biosciences and a fifth-degree black belt from the International Shotokan Karate Federation. He is an official ISKF instructor, examiner, and judge, having studied under both Okazaki and Yaguchi sensei. Swanson began his martial studies in 1980 in his native New Zealand. He moved to the United States in 1998.

Jeff Burger holds fifth-degree black belts in both Shito-Ryu karate and Matsukazi-Ryu ju jutsu. He is a muay thai instructor, trained and certified at Muay Thai Institute in Thailand, who competed in the 2006 Muay Thai World Championships. He is a Chinese Boxing and Tai Chi Chuan Sifu, trained and certified in China.

Joe Varady is a fifth-degree black belt with over thirty years of experience in martial arts. He has trained in numerous Eastern and Western disciplines, including karate, judo, eskrima, boxing, fencing, and long sword. He has won numerous awards competing in full-contact weapons tournaments around the world. Joe holds a master's degree in elementary education.

Mr. Faulise has been training and has had an interest in the martial arts since the age of thirteen. He began training in 1973, when he was encouraged by his mother to try out for the wrestling team at school. He learned that the coach also owned a judo school and began training there as well. He did wrestling in the winter months and judo in the summer months until 1977.